Sprinkling device



March 27, 1956 R. T. GREENER ET AL SPRINKLING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1953 a 2 9.. WM unw i RAY I: GQEENEE (Toss/ 14 B. JY/rzELm INVEN TORS ATTORNEY.

2,739,839 SPRINKLING DEVICE- Ray T. Greener and Joseph B. Hazelton, Covina, Calif.

Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,440

Claims. cl.'299-1s v sprinkler, however, cannoteconomically spray polygonal.

or irregular shaped areas since an appreciable quantity of water would obviously be wasted.

Various types of sprinkler devices have been-employed. in an attempt to achieve polygonal or irregular spraypatterns. Some rotatable sprinkler heads have been provided with deflector vanes generally secured. to the sprinkler head by brackets and positioned to deflect or partially deflect the stream of water issuing from the sprinkler nozzle. These vanes attempt to control the distance to which the stream of water is thrown at difier-' ent angular positions, however, since the volume of water passing through such sprinkler head is generally constant,.

the distribution of water over a given area by a rotating sprinkler using a deflector-type attachment is not uniform. Furthermore, every time the water stream strikes one of the supporting brackets, thewater streamis interrupted and as a result some areas receive much more water than is required, while other areas receive little or no water. Other devices have been proposed and constructed for varying the distance as well as the'volume of water thrown from a rotating sprinkler head during a rotational cycle but the majority of such devicesfare complicated and expensive to manufacture. E

in construction and can be manufactured cheaply. "The device comprises a fixed sleeve member supported in spaced relationship to a body-member; the sleeve member being-provided with control ports. A tubular axle is rotatably mounted within the sleeve and is restrained against "longitudinal movement. The axle is provided with a continuous water inlet and is also provided with one or more auxiliary water inlets that communicate with the control ports in the sleeve to increase the volume of water passing through the tubular axle at predetermined positions. The device may be attached between a water supply source and most rotatable types of sprinkler heads Patented- Mar. 27, 1956 2' capable of uniformly'irrigating non-circular or irregular areas and confinethe spray of water delivered by the nozzle within the boundaries of the area to be sprinkled.

A further object of this invention is 'to provide an adjnstable form of controldevice that can be attached to a rotatable'sprinkler head whereby the volume of water to be delivered at various angular positions. can be regulated to confine the spray to, the outline of the area to be sprinkled regardless of its shape or the irregularity of its outline. i

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying illustrative drawings in which: X

Fig. l is .a longitudinal view partly in cross-section showing the control device attached to a rotating sprinkler head.

- Fig.2 is a perspective view a portionof a" tubular axle.

Fig. 3 isza-perspective view of a stationary sleeve showpartly in cross-section. of

ing the control =ports.

Fig. 4 is across-section view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1 showing a-turbulence reducing guide vane in the tubular axle.

Fig. v5 is a longitudinal view partly in cross-section of 1-- a modification of the device of Fig. l in which the con- The device. according to the present invention is simple" to vary the volume of water delivered to the sprinkler head at various angular positions in a rotational cycle. A feature of the device is its ability to substantially spray all the areas to be covered by the sprinkler uniformly regardless of the regularity of their outline imity or remoteness from the sprinkler head.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive device for controlling the distributionfof water delivered from a rotatable sprinkler at various angularv positions that can be easily attached to most conventionaltypes of rotatable sprinkler heads.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a control device. for use with a rotatable sprinkler head that is or their prox-' 'channel- 15 is"provided"wi th a control port or ports 17 trolports can beadjusted to regulate the flow of water through them.

. Fig. 6 is a cross-section view taken on the line VI-VI- of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section view taken on the line VIIVII of- Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of stationary sleeve that may be employed in the device of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 there is shown one-form of our novel device forcontrolling the angular distribution of'water from a rotatable-type sprinklerhead designated in the drawings by the letter R. The device comprises a stationary hollow body 10 provided with internal threads 11 at its lower'endl portion'adapted to be attached to a water supply line 'or hose. The upper end portion of hollow body'10 is also provided with internal threads 12. Hollow body 10 has'aradially, inwardly extending annular shoulder 14 defining an opening located within the hollow body preferably at a'position starting below the lower end of internal threads 12 and continuing downwardly a short-distance.

- A "hollow"stationarysleeve 16 is, positioned within hollow body 10 in spaced relationship thereto and preferably extends; as shown-inFig. 1, from the upper end of shoulder 14 to-a position just above the upper end of lower internal threads 11. The upper end of sleeve 16 corresponds in external diameter to the diameter of the annular shoulder 14. The upper end of sleeve 16 is preferably press-fitted into the opening defined -bythe annular shoulder 14,, thereby securely supporting the remainder of the sleeve in spaced relati'ons'hip to theinner wall of the hollow body and forming an'annular passagewayfor channel 15 that is in communication with the lower end portion of the hollow body member. The sleeve may also be secured to annular shoulder 14 by'anyother'desired means such as set screws or threading. If preferredan alternate form of sleeve may be used; the sleeve may be provided with an integral shoulder located at the proper position which is adapted to'engage the inner surface of the hollow body, and support th'eremainder of the sleeve in spaced relationshipthereto.

That portion 1 of [ska/8 16 surrounded by annular extending through the wall of the sleeve. These ports are preferably narrow and extend longitudinally. The

number and angular positions of the control ports in the sleeve is dependent on the number and angular positions at which increased flow of water is required. For example where the area to be sprinkled is square or rectangular it is preferable to provide four control ports in the sleeve as indicated in Fig. 4.

A tubular axle 20 is rotatably mounted in sleeve 16 and comprises a lower portion 21, an upper outwardly extending portion 23, and a collar 22 positioned between the upper portion 23 and lower portion 21. The collar 22 and outwardly extending portion 23 are preferably integral with lower portion 21. Lower portion 21 of the tubular axle is preferably slightly longer than the length of the sleeve and should seat snugly in sleeve 16 but should not fit tightly enough to interfere with its free rotation therein. Collar 22 normally rests against the upper end of sleeve 16' when the device is not under pressure from the stream of water entering from the supply line.

Outwardly extending portion 23 is preferably of the same external diameter as lower portion 21 and is provided with threads or other means at its upper end portion for attaching the axle to a rotatable-type of sprinkler head. A second hollow sleeve member 24 having a through bore 25, large enoughiri diameter to permit free rotation therein of the upper portion 23 of the tubular axle, is provided with threads at its lower end and adapted to engage threads 12 in the upper end portion of the hollow body member. An annular gasket 26 is preferably employed between collar 22 and the lower edge of sleeve 24 to prevent leakage. When assembled the lower end of sleeve 24 is just above the upper marginal surface of gasket 26 seated on collar 22, thereby preventing appreciable longitudinal movement of the tubular axle without interfering with its rotation.

The lower end of tubular axle 20 is provided with a longitudinally extending water inlet port 28 that is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the tubular axle. Water inlet port 28 is preferably axially positioned. This port permits a portion of the water entering the body to continuously pass into the tubular axle, through the passageway formed by the, tubular axle and to the sprinkler head. The area of inlet port 28 may be made adjustable if desired by employing any suitable means for obturating or partially obturating the opening, such as an adjustable screw that may project into the inlet port opening.

The lower portion 21 of tubular axle is also provided with one or more auxiliary ports. 29, that extend through the wall of the axle. The port or ports are. positioned to permit them to. register with control ports 17 in. the, sleeve, when the tubular axle is mounted f rotation in sleeve 16 and is properly oriented. Ports 29. preferably correspond in length and width to the control ports 17 in sleeve 16.

Since both control port 17 and auxiliary port 29, in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are. narrow, they will be in communication with each other for only a short angular interval. Where the device of Fig. l is attached to a rotatable, sprinkler head and employed to spray a, polygonal area such as a square or rectangle, this. arrangement of control ports and auxiliary ports would, by properly orienting the device and providing the necessary area in the control port and auxiliary port, assure the additional water necessary to permit the. spray to. reach the corners and. cover the increased area included in the angular interval during which the narrow control and auxiliary ports. are in communication with each other. On either side, of this angular interval however, the how of water falls rapidly to a minimum leaving substantial outer areas of the polygon with little or no water.

To overcome the. above difiicultythere is provided; an auxiliary port that comprises an axially elongated portion 29 as heretofore, and a transverse portion 30 extending beyond each side of the axially elongated portion. Transverse portion 30 of the auxiliary port is preferably in the form of a straight cut, perpendicular to the axis of the tubular axle and extends through the wall of the axle. The cut forms a channel that gradually increases in depth up to its midpoint and merges at either end into the curved wall of the tubular axle. Auxiliary port 30 serves the function of gradually increasing and decreasing the volume of water flowing through the tubular axle during the rotational interval that it isin communication with a control port 17, before and after control port 17 and longitudinal portion 29 of the auxiliaryport are in communication with one another. The throw of water also gradually increases and decreases asthe tubular axle approaches or leaves the position at which maximum fiow occurs. In some instances it is preferable to employ more than one longitudinal port having a transverse portiori 30 to insure a more uniform distribution of water and'better boundary control. p f

Because of the rotation of tubular axle 20, the'cha'rige in the direction of flow of the water entering through the auxiliary ports and the constriction of how, we have found that considerable turbulence occurs within tubular axle member 20. In order to minimize the'eifect of this turbulence and increase the throw of the water stream from the nozzle of the sprinkler head, we preferably'provide within the rotatable tubular axle a fixed, longitudinal- 1y extending guide vane 31 that preferably, substantially bisects the internal passageway of the tubular axle for a suitable distance and tends to restore a more laminarfiow. This vane may be'secured within the tubular axle by any suitable means such as supporting it in diagonally opposed auxiliary ports, soldering, brazing,wedging"it' in the tubular axle passageway etc. In Fig. 4 the vane 31 is shown inserted in diametrically opposed auxiliary in let ports in the tubular axle 20. In this-example,- vane 31 extends between the upper-and-lower ends of auxiliary inlet ports 29 and is thus restrained from longitudinal movement. I 1

The manner in which the device'of Fig.1 is employed and operated is as follows: 'hollowbody- 10 is attached by means of lower threads 11 to the threaded end of a stand pipe or suitable hose attachment as shown in Fig. 1; The sprinkler head is attached to the threaded end of outwardlyprojecting portion 23 of the tubular axle and oriented so that the nozzle of the sprinkler head-w'illbe in proper angular alignment with the position at which maximum flow of water is required, when auxiliary port 29,, provided with transverse auxiliary port 30, communication with a control .port 17:

Water is supplied to the hollow body through thc pipe or hose. A portion of the. water entering the hollow body 10 flows. continuously into the tubular axle 20 through axial inlet port 28-, through-the passageway During this, interval. the flow of; water from the. sprinkler will-remain at a assuming; that the water-is delivered, to the control device under. constant pressure.

The sprinkler head,- and tubular axle continue to re.-

ta'te. bringing auxiliary ports 29' into. communication with control ports. 17 of the fixed sleeve. When thesepoi'ts are. in full communication with each h r, watcriwill flow from. annular channel; 15 between sleeve and the inner wall of hollow body member- 10, through control port: .7 and. auxiliary port-29, and into. tubular axle 20 augmenting the volume. of water entering continu ously through axial water inlet port 28.: J During'the interval when control, port 17 and auxiliary port" 29. are

is in run in full communication, the flow of water from the sprinkler will be at a maximum. The width of the control port and the communicating auxiliary port determines the angular interval during which water will flow through the auxiliary port. In all the control devices according to this invention it is contemplated that the control port and auxiliary ports shall be out of communication with each other during a portion or portions of the rotational cycle to permit the flow of water to drop to a minimum.

Since the device is capable of regulating the flow at several angular positions, in the manner described, it is particularly adaptable for use in spraying polygonal areas. Where the area to be sprinkled is rectangular, for example square, a sleeve member having four equally spaced control ports as shown in Fig. 4 may be advantageously employed. The control device may also be adapted to spray areas of different geometric outlines by varying the number and positioning of the control ports.

While tubular axle 20 in Figs. 1 and 2 has four auxiliary inlet ports that communicate simultaneously with the four control ports in sleeve 16, the axle may be providedwith fewer auxiliary ports; for example, only a single auxiliary port may be employed. The number of auxiliary ports that simultaneously come into communication with the control ports at a given angular position of the axle is determined by the volume of water to be delivered at that position and the area of each port.

Where the sprinkler is employed to spray a polygonal area and the ports are narrow as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it is preferable to include one or more of the modified longitudinal auxiliary ports 29 having short transverse port 30, for the reasons set forth above. This will insure a more uniform distribution of water as the sprinkler approaches and leaves the corners of a poly onal area and permits the spray of water to gradually increase or decrease in length during the intervals between the points of minimum and maximum flow.

When an area having an irregular or complicated geometric outline is to be sprinkled, it is preferable to employ a modified form of the sprinkler control device shown in Fig. 5 In this embodiment the volume of water entering and passing through each of the control ports in the sleeve can be regulated as required.

The hollow body 34, sleeve 35, and tubular axle 38 are similar in construction to that of hollow body 10, sleeve 16 and tubular axle 20 of Fig. l; the essential difference residing in the number, position and shape of the control ports and auxiliary ports employed. Since the device is to be employed to control the flow of water at a number of angular positions of the tubular axle (with the attached sprinkler head), the sleeve member is provided with control ports corresponding in number to the number of the angular positions at which the flow of Water is to be regulated; in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the sleeve is preferably provided with eight control ports.

Due to the fact that a large number of control ports are to be included in a sleeve of relatively small diameter, it is preferable to divide the ports into two groups; four of the control ports 36 are circumferentially spaced in a plane or Zone transverse to the axis of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 7 and the remaining four control ports designated as 37 are longitudinally spaced above the first group of control ports and are also circumferentially spaced in a plane or zone transverse to the axis of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 6. Both groups of ports are located in that portion of sleeve 35 surrounded by chan- 'nel 15. The upper control ports are preferably angularly positioned so they will be in staggered relationship to the lower ports.

The tubular axle 38 is preferably provided with a lower auxiliary port 39 and an upper auxiliary port 40 longitudinally spaced with respect to each other to conform with the longitudinal spacing of the rows of control ports 36 and 37 in sleeve member'35. This arrangement will permit the auxiliary ports to register with ports 36 and 37 when the axle ismounted for rotation in sleeve 35. Auxiliary ports 39 and 40 are preferably positioned on the sleeve member in longitudinal alignment with each other. The control ports 36 and 37 and auxiliary ports 39 and 40 may be of any desired configuration, for example, they may be circular, eliptical, rectangular or diamond shaped.

Hollow body member 34 is provided with a plurality of threaded radial holes 41 corresponding in number and position to the number and position of control ports 36 and 37 in sleeve 35. The holesare provided with correspondingly threaded adjustment screws 42 having an end area capable of obturating the control ports when the end of the screw is against the control port. Locking means such as lock nuts 43 are employed to lockthe screws in adjustment after the position of the screw has been established.

This device functions in a manner similar to that in which the device of Fig. 1 operates, with the exception that the volume of water flowing through each control port may be regulated as desired to insure flow of the {proper volume of water into the tubular axle at that position. After the volume of water entering each port has been adjusted, all the adjustment screws are locked in position by lock nuts 43, and the device is ready for use. Since the upper and lower control ports 36 and 37 are in staggered relationship with respect to each other, at the time the axle has rotated to place an upper auxiliary port 40 in communication with an upper control port 37, the lower auxiliary port 39 will not be in communication with'any of the'lower control ports 36. As the tubular axle rotates, the upper auxiliary port will move out of communication with the upper control port before lower auxiliary port 39 will start to come into communication with a lower control port 36.

The arrangement shown in the drawings permits the volume of the spray from the sprinkler head to be adjusted at approximately every 45 of the rotational cycle. Since the adjustment screws can substantially obturate or partially obturate every control port in the manner required, it is possible to confine the spray from the sprinkler head, to which this device is attached, to any area regardless of the regularity or irregularity of its outline and insure uniform and economical sprinkling of the area.

The control devices described hereinabove provide a practical, simple, efficient, and inexpensive means for automatically controlling the discharge of water from a rotatable type sprinkler head to cover areas that are polygonal or irregular in outline. The description of the invention is only exemplary and it is not intended that the invention be limited to the exact details set forth herein.

All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. A device for controlling the angular distribution of water from a rotatable sprinkler comprising: a stationary, hollow body member adapted to be attached to a water supply line; a hollow, stationary sleeve positioned within said body member in spaced relation thereto; a tubular axle rotatably mounted in said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom; means for restraining the axle against longitudinal movement in either direction; means for connecting a sprinkler to the outer end of said axle, the inner end of said axle being provided with a water inlet port; an auxiliary water inlet port in the wall of said tubular axle; and a control port in said sleeve, said control port being arranged to communicate with the auxiliary inlet port at a predetermined portion of the rotational cycle of the axle.

2. A device for controlling the angular distribution of water from a rotatable sprinkler comprising: a stationary hollow body member-; adapted to-be at ached to awater supply line; a hollow stationary sleeve positioned within said body member in spaced relation thereto; a tubular axle rotatably mounted insaid sleeve and extending out: wardly therefrom; means for restraining the axle against longitudinal movement; means for connecting a sprinkler to the outer end of saidaxle, the innerend of said axle being provided with'an; axial water inlet port; an auxiliary water inlet port in the wall of said tubular axle; and a plurality of controlports in said sleeve, communication being established between said, auxiliary, port and the control ports insaid sleeve only at predetermined intervals and positionsof said auxiliary inlet port.

3. A device for controllingthe angular distribution of water from a rotatable sprinkler comprising: a stationary, hollow body member adaptedto be attached to a water supply line; a hollow, stationary sleeve positioned within said body member in spaced relationship thereto; a tubular axle rotatably mounted in said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom; means for restraining the axle against longitudinal movement; means for connecting a sprinkler to the outer end of said axle, the inner end of said axle being; provided with water inlet port; an auxiliary water inlet port in the wall of said tubular axle; a' plurality of control ports in said sleeve, communication being established between said auxiliary port and control ports only at predetermined intervals and positions of said auxiliary inlet port; and means carried by ,the body member for controllably obturating. said control ports, whereby the pattern of distribution of water from said sprinkler may be varied while said device is attached to a water supply line.

4. A device for distributing water from a rotatable sprinkler head vin a selected non-circular pattern comprising: a stationary hollow body member having an inlet opening at one end and adapted to receive water from awater supply line and closed at its other end; a hollow stationary sleeve coaxially supported within the body member and defining therewith an annular channel in communication with said inlet opening; a tubular axle rotatably mounted in said sleeve and extending outwardly through the closed end of the body member, the outer end of said tubular axle being provided with means for carrying a rotatable sprinkler head, said tubular axle being provided with a water inlet port at its inner end and providing a passageway from said inlet port to said outer end for a continuous stream of water; and control means in the sleeve and in the axle for modifying the volume of the continuous stream of water flowing through said axle, the control means comprising control ports in the sleeve, and auxiliary ports in the tubular axle arranged to register at only predetermined positions of the tubular axle during the rotation thereof to permit flow of water from the annular channel to the passageway in the tubular axle.

5. A device of the character stated in claim 4 wherein means are provided for controllably obturating said control means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l,568,250 tanton Jan. 5, 1926 l,6l8,538 Kittinger Feb. 22, 1927 2,459,244 Sellars Jan. 18, 1949 2,526,958 Landis Oct. 24, 1950 

